tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489652418006703732017-09-06T14:04:00.059-07:00Lisa's Library CornerThe librarian's book recommendations from the Elgin Public Library in Elgin, Iowa.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-3031620268421121162017-09-06T14:04:00.000-07:002017-09-06T14:04:00.074-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvLhhNEq2gw/WbBe-sj--5I/AAAAAAAAA8s/J_s86AflEmIxA-2oKclhJT-E10dVCaVKgCLcBGAs/s1600/lying%2Bgame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvLhhNEq2gw/WbBe-sj--5I/AAAAAAAAA8s/J_s86AflEmIxA-2oKclhJT-E10dVCaVKgCLcBGAs/s200/lying%2Bgame.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I so enjoyed Ruth Ware's thriller <i>The Woman in Cabin 10 </i>and couldn't wait for her newest book to hit the library. It is another taut, exciting psychological thriller mixing the elements of friendship, coming of age, mysterious death, and loyalty.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kate, Isa, Thea, and Fatima were all girls at a boarding school when they met and became close, playing a game where they scored points for telling random lies to those they thought would believe them. They liked to see who they could dupe into believing their ridiculous tales. They also shared their living quarters and their desire to be individuals as well as part of a family who would love them unconditionally. They all found that their family was the four of them. They then clung to the only adult they knew who would allow them the freedom to explore and experiment, Kate's father. But then, one night Kate summons them to her house to help her with a big problem. Someone is dead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Years later, Kate summons them again with a short text that says simply, "I need you." The other women don't hesitate to come to her aid, leaving their new, adult lives behind as with strings of lies in their wake. The question they then face is: how far do you go to protect those you love? Should we be willing to risk everything to be loyal and uphold a promise? When do the lies have to stop?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't miss this spooky, twisty gem of a mystery filled with great characters you won't soon forget!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-37436746808078197022017-09-06T13:44:00.003-07:002017-09-06T13:44:55.538-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvTHg6GtxK8/WXJQ4puyGcI/AAAAAAAAA60/9m2PU-h3CZk5SApq0S65g4iYyZYMPZKSACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/houseofspies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvTHg6GtxK8/WXJQ4puyGcI/AAAAAAAAA60/9m2PU-h3CZk5SApq0S65g4iYyZYMPZKSACPcBGAYYCw/s200/houseofspies.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do not read series fiction very often, but I never miss a Daniel Silva right as it comes out of the box of new books at the library. Gabriel Allon is the star once again in this one, and I just can't seem to resist someone who is not only a spy, but an assassin, and an art restorer too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This newest Allon tale begins in the wake of the terrorist attack on London depicted in Silva's book <i>The Black Widow</i>. It was a well-constructed and secret attack with few holes, however Allon's team finds one in the form of an ISIS operative known only as Saladin. The team from The Office has history with Saladin, and is determined to bring him down. To do that, they enlist a wealthy drug dealer and his wife, under threat of prosecution and possible health hazards, to bring Saladin closer so they can take him out for good. It is a plan that takes money, planning, patience, deceit, and the help of the one woman who knows Saladin's looks and nature from up-close experience.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides all this exciting espionage, the core of the novel is always Allon's character and the personalities of those on his team. Their honed spy-craft and irresistible, quirky personalities draw you in and make you care deeply about the dangerous outcome of the mission. Allon is an enigma who cares and fights for not only his own home of Israel, but his beautiful wife, his children, the art he lovingly restores in his "down time" and indeed, the safety of the entire world. Silva's extensive research and thrilling writing style bring them all together into a seemingly current-day world where disaster is on the horizon on any given day.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While you certainly do not have to read all of the other 16 wonderful books in this series to understand the plot of this one or any of the others, it would certainly be a joy to go back to some earlier books such as one of my favorites,&nbsp;<i>The Secret Servant,</i>&nbsp;to get to know the core characters and their history. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-91300737168032866472017-07-29T09:15:00.001-07:002017-07-29T09:15:55.821-07:00Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zyh0avy3NE/WXJQX0cgStI/AAAAAAAAA64/MiD1EZbrrgU1fEC_YtUyPoN8Fz2YQ1_ZACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/everlastlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Zyh0avy3NE/WXJQX0cgStI/AAAAAAAAA64/MiD1EZbrrgU1fEC_YtUyPoN8Fz2YQ1_ZACPcBGAYYCw/s200/everlastlie.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><br />There are getting to be a lot of psychological thrillers since the phenomenal success of <i>Gone Girl</i> and <i>The Girl on the Train</i>. If you liked those novels, you are sure to like this new one by Mary Kubica, one of my new favorite authors.<br /><br />Told in alternating chapters from the two main character's points of view, we get a look into the marriage of Clara and Nick Solberg. They are a happy couple with two young children, seemingly living the dream. Nick is a successful dentist with his own practice, and Clara stays at home to raise Maisie and baby Felix. &nbsp;But tragedy strikes, and Nick is killed in a car crash. Maisie is unhurt in the back seat, but she sees a "bad man" in a "black car." Her terror at these two things raises a lot of questions in the grieving Clara's mind. Was it an accident? Could it be a suicide? Murder?<br /><br />All of these questions start to mess with poor Clara's head, as she starts to do some investigation of her own. With each new clue, she is convinced that the crash was not an accident caused by her husband's lead foot and the sun in his eyes. But the list of suspects and motives in her mind grows, as does her daughter's terror.<br /><br />It is not until the very last chapter that the facts come together for both Clara and the reader. And while I didn't think<i> Every Last Lie</i> was Kubica's best, it is a fun, summer page-turner. If you'd like to try some others, check out <i>The Good Girl, Don't You Cry,</i>&nbsp;and <i>Pretty Baby</i>.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-25796677570464270642017-07-21T12:38:00.003-07:002017-07-21T12:38:33.622-07:00The Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLwYdIDqjAI/WVVpyH2FyVI/AAAAAAAAA5c/aESb4pqOx9gt05Nq5ukMWWKc4jcTyIe3ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/sweetesthallelujah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="188" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLwYdIDqjAI/WVVpyH2FyVI/AAAAAAAAA5c/aESb4pqOx9gt05Nq5ukMWWKc4jcTyIe3ACPcBGAYYCw/s200/sweetesthallelujah.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is our first book of the new reading year for our Valley Book Club. It is a bitter-sweet novel of love, friendship, secrets, and coming of age.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Sweetest Hallelujah </i>is really about the unexpectedly intertwining lives two very different women in 1955 Mississippi: Betty Jewel, a black, single mother who is dying of cancer, and &nbsp;Cassie Malone, a recently widowed, childless white woman. As Betty Jewel tries to enjoy her last days on earth with her mother and her loyal girlfriends, she also is trying to decide what to do about the custody and care of her young daughter, Billie. Billie doesn't know her father, a formerly famous jazz musician, but longs to meet him and be with him should her mother die. But he is not a suitable parent, according to everyone who knows him. Then enters Cassie Malone. Cassie always wanted children with her beloved husband, Joe, but it was not to be. After his death, Cassie struggles with making her life meaningful with her job at the newspaper, and then receives some shocking news about her husband's life which links him to a jazz club near where Betty Jewel and Billie live. Cassie is forced to make a lot of decisions about how she saw her marriage and her past, and she must make some choices about her friendships, motherhood, and racism in our society.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Sweetest Hallelujah </i>is beautifully written and addresses a lot of issues that are still extremely relevant in today's world. It is a touching novel that those who love a real tear-jerker will not want to put down. I, myself, &nbsp;found the cancer element of the story very hard to read at times, as I know so many who have struggled with this horrible disease. And while the ending will be satisfying to most, it did seem quite predictable and a bit unrealistic to me. That said, it will make for some good discussion for book clubs everywhere, and I can't wait to talk to our group about it in September. Let me know what you and your book groups think of it!</div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-6585817193688197802017-06-29T15:54:00.000-07:002017-06-29T15:54:10.275-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_tV7KFE7tw/WVWArywWUwI/AAAAAAAAA54/f-n4P6ay7P0EE_DQYLIADZQYlaq7Vr-MwCLcBGAs/s1600/love%2Band%2Btrouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="130" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_tV7KFE7tw/WVWArywWUwI/AAAAAAAAA54/f-n4P6ay7P0EE_DQYLIADZQYlaq7Vr-MwCLcBGAs/s200/love%2Band%2Btrouble.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I read the description of this book somewhere, it sounded like the author was going to tell me secrets about myself. And who can resist that title? Love AND trouble. I'm in - even though I don't really read many memoirs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The subtitle pretty much describes the book (and indeed most women's thoughts about middle age). There is a reckoning coming when you hit the mid-forties. If you aren't there yet, honey, please - get ready. This is why <i>Love and Trouble</i> is such an entertaining, terrifying, brutal, poignant, and cool read. The author takes her many trials, experiences, and thoughts (also interesting diary entries) from when she was a teen and mixes them with her trials, experiences, and thoughts from her mid-life crisis on a sort of winding continuum. This may sound pithy and overdone when it comes to memoirs, but Dederer manages to tackle this in a very interesting and easily readable way.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although I couldn't really relate to it all, as I might have thought by reading the jacket, there was so much that I could see in myself that made it truly enjoyable. It always amazes me how strong women are and how common our experiences really seem to be. I've read a lot of mixed reviews on this one. Try it, and let me know what you think.&nbsp;</div>LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-27991691397027988372017-06-29T15:11:00.002-07:002017-06-29T15:11:23.261-07:00The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWawz8skZuk/WVV5t3JHk8I/AAAAAAAAA5o/6umiTj8AOgw0_3FylYCUHNwVbHuzF8nYACLcBGAs/s1600/witchboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWawz8skZuk/WVV5t3JHk8I/AAAAAAAAA5o/6umiTj8AOgw0_3FylYCUHNwVbHuzF8nYACLcBGAs/s200/witchboy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is another beautifully written book by Kelly Barnhill. If you loved Newbery winner&nbsp;<i>The Girl Who Drank the Moon</i>, you will certainly like this truly magical tale as well, and vice versa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is nothing more engrossing than a tale of witches, magic, kings and queens, bandits, lost souls, and loyal wolves. This book has it all. It is a page-turner of a fairy tale that has a beautiful, fulfilling ending.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't miss either one of these fabulous stories, even if you think you are too old for magic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-48684633963349737792017-06-29T15:05:00.000-07:002017-06-29T15:05:02.059-07:00The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aj7RG0_WiQ0/WVVsnddPmJI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/B1M9rxtxBpQ1G7T0BmJwg05uAImMc0KSgCLcBGAs/s1600/girlwhodrankthemoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aj7RG0_WiQ0/WVVsnddPmJI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/B1M9rxtxBpQ1G7T0BmJwg05uAImMc0KSgCLcBGAs/s200/girlwhodrankthemoon.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had the great privilege of hearing Newbery author Kelly Barnhill speak at the Kids First Conference in Des Moines, Iowa this year. She spoke about how reading fairy tales changed her life, and I think reading hers will change mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book is full of magic of many kinds. It is about magical characters, magical creatures, and the power of the magic that is in all of us. It is about a witch and her true friend a swamp monster and their "pet," a tiny dragon. It is also about a boy who sees something so powerful that it could change everything. It is about the love of a mother for her child, and the extent people will go to save each other from what they think is evil.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a complicated tale told in the most beautiful language I have read in a long time. I could not put it down, which was amazing and surprising, as I am not used to reading fairy tales any more. And although it's a children's book, <i>The Girl Who Drank the Moon</i> poses some fascinating questions about society and the world we live in today. Should we follow a rule or law simply because it seems to serve a purpose for the many? Is fear ever a necessary method of rule for a government? How do we go about questioning rules or government when it's difficult to do so? And of course, the most important question: Can we learn to use the magic for Good?" I surely hope we can. Perhaps fairy tales can teach us more than we think.</div>LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-28538276296555376492015-09-11T09:31:00.000-07:002015-09-11T09:31:07.114-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CA6ijIAHuUY/VfMAUcVKWdI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_lpMoycImLA/s1600/womanwithasecret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CA6ijIAHuUY/VfMAUcVKWdI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_lpMoycImLA/s200/womanwithasecret.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />Damon Blundy, trendy, controversial blogger and news columnist is dead. A message is scrawled near the murder scene, "He is no less dead." What? Yeah, that's what everyone is asking in this wonderful psychological thriller by Sophie Hannah.<br /><br />Nikki Clements feels like she knows what "He is no less dead," means. In fact, she drove by Damon Blundy's house many times that day. In fact, she just moved to his neighborhood. But she can't quite place why those words stick in her head. Words are important to Nikki, you see. She uses them a lot in her secret life. Is her secret big emough to kill for?<br /><br />If you liked <i>Gone Girl</i> with all its quirky, pyscho drama, you'll love this book. Its pace is good enough and just wild and creepy enough to keep you reading page after page. Give it a try, and then check out the many other Sophie Hannah books the library has to offer!LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-54405381408489923982015-06-23T09:53:00.000-07:002015-06-23T09:53:57.291-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u3jRYm06xW8/VYmLLIpx4AI/AAAAAAAAArg/UNY-Vs_trx8/s1600/neverfade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u3jRYm06xW8/VYmLLIpx4AI/AAAAAAAAArg/UNY-Vs_trx8/s200/neverfade.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br />Second books in trilogies are often my favorites. For me, this was definitely true of <i>The Hunger Games</i> and <i>Legend. </i>I think the same holds true for this second entry in the<i> Darkest Minds</i> trilogy.<br /><br />In this continuing saga of Ruby and her friends as they battle to find each other after separation in battle, President Clancy's son and his personal agenda become evident. Ruby must face her decision regarding her sacrifice for Liam as well as analyze every part of her humanity and conscience. There are some wonderful chances for readers of all ages to ask themselves the questions Ruby faces: Does love really mean letting go sometimes? Does an end justify the means? How far would we go to help others?<br /><br />The twisty plot and thrilling action once again drew me in and amazed me as an adult reader reading this YA novel. If kids can follow all the espionage and mind games going on here, they are very smart readers, indeed. There is also just enough "superpower" sci fi going on to keep those readers going, but like other well-done dystopian books, there is enough "reality" or real-world drama to keep those who really don't get into fantasy plots reading well into the night.<br /><br />The next book is called <i>After Light. </i>I might have to take a break to read some great new adult novels coming out this summer, but I'm eager to know if the last book ties up all of the exciting loose ends in this wonderful series.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-45933866627118124972015-06-05T10:28:00.000-07:002015-06-05T10:28:45.343-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gS7wU2tp054/VXHVE7E0pKI/AAAAAAAAAq8/TzAarCPa5M4/s1600/darkest%2Bminds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gS7wU2tp054/VXHVE7E0pKI/AAAAAAAAAq8/TzAarCPa5M4/s200/darkest%2Bminds.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took this book to our middle school for kids to check out, and the school librarian said they immediately started passing it around because after one person read it, another wanted it. So, I'm finally giving this trilogy a shot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The premise is that the children in the United States suddenly become vulnerable to a virus at the age of 10 which ultimately either kills them or changes their brain chemistry so that they have new and powerful abilities. The government and all the adults don't really know what to do with the kids who survive because some the "powers" the kids now possess seem dangerous. So, the really great system the government comes up with is to label the kids by ability, giving it a color name, and putting them in separate camps away from their parents and the rest of humanity. Ruby is one such girl, labeled "orange" because of her ability to read people's thoughts and memories. Orange kids are extremely rare by the time Ruby is 16, and so various organizations are looking for her to be their secret weapon. What could a girl who could read people's thoughts and erase their memories do for a government? An army? Yeah. A lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a little bit of something for every reader in this series, I believe. There is thrilling action, good dialog, a smart heroine, a couple of handsome love interests, friends with loyalty, war, and any number of other social issues. Pick it up and give it a try. I'm going to read the second book, <i>Never Fade. </i>I'll let you know if it's as good as the first.</div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-23994443940086424942015-05-22T09:03:00.002-07:002015-05-22T09:03:23.688-07:00New Posts on the Way!I cannot believe it's been almost a year since I posted something here. I apologize for this laziness, and I vow to get back to sharing my book recommendations with you! I also plan on creating a new blog just for kids and teens where I'll review all the YA and middle grade fiction that I read. Thank you for your patience this year, and I hope you'll continue to follow me!LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-54830369847641157702014-07-08T09:55:00.002-07:002014-07-08T09:56:08.399-07:00The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsK6F07miCg/U7wfjFeGdBI/AAAAAAAAAnk/LMflVNX4yNk/s1600/museumofextraordinarythings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsK6F07miCg/U7wfjFeGdBI/AAAAAAAAAnk/LMflVNX4yNk/s1600/museumofextraordinarythings.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a></div><br />I have always loved Alice Hoffman because she manages to mix realistic characters, a strong sense of place, and a spiritual or magical element all into a fascinating, believable story that stays with me forever. <i>The Museum of Extraordinary Things</i> is another of these extraordinary stories.<br /><br />Coralie Sardie is extraordinary for many reasons. She lives with her father, the mastermind and owner of a boardwalk "freak show." Coralie herself is one of the "freaks" billed as the Mermaid Girl, floating in a tank of water for many hours at a time to entertain the masses and swimming for hours in the dark, dangerous waters of the Hudson. She lives among the other acts including a "wolf man" and a "butterfly girl" who all have extraordinary looks and talents, but are, as Coralie knows, just people.<br /><br />Eddie Cohen is not a sideshow act but a photographer trying to find his way in a confusing world where he feels alone and unworthy until he happens upon Coralie, who seems to him like a dream in every way. He also happens upon a mystery involving a missing girl and all the characters who played a role in her disappearance. He cannot shake the need to solve the mystery for the parents of the girl, and he can't shake his longing for Coralie.<br /><br />When Coralie and Eddie find each other, it is more than a simple romance. It is a mysterious and dangerous tangle of past, present, and future. It is two people simply trying to have ordinary love when their lives and bodies and friends are almost too extraordinary to hold it.<br /><br />If it's magic, mystery, and great characters you want, then Alice Hoffman will never fail you. Give this, or one of her other wonderful books a try. Great summer reads!LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-20943362960369036862014-03-21T15:03:00.000-07:002014-03-21T15:03:01.608-07:00Ashfall by Mike Mullin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLfWFtnDNrk/Uyyy7OuGlhI/AAAAAAAAAnA/SPUxAZheL6E/s1600/ashfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLfWFtnDNrk/Uyyy7OuGlhI/AAAAAAAAAnA/SPUxAZheL6E/s1600/ashfall.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>Another librarian friend of mine told me about this new series, and it's truly amazing. If you like post-apocalyptic YA, you will love <i>Ashfall,</i> the first in a trilogy set in our very own Iowa.<br /><br />In the first chapter of the novel, a teen boy named Alex is left home alone for the weekend. While he is innocently trying decide which computer games to play without interruption, the house begins to shake, thunder sounds louder than he's ever heard, and he ends up pulling himself from the rubble pile that is his home. No one in his small town seems to know what is going on, but a strange substance begins to fall from the sky and doesn't quit - the ash from a distant mega-volcano. The struggle that ensues for Alex, who tries desperately to get back to his family a couple hours away, is mesmerizing. The ash becomes like the dust in the American Dust Bowl era, covering everything and killing people and animals who breathe it in and destroying the natural resources by suffocating them. Along the road, Alex is met with struggles of violence both from other people and the desolate environment and altered weather patterns that follow the volcano's destruction. He does find a friend, Darla, along the way, who is both a hindrance and a help in his survival but who helps him retain his humanity in a very inhumane setting.<br /><br />I'm not quite sure why I couldn't put <i>Ashfall</i> down. It was dark and dystopian, yes, but the idea of the ash and the struggle and randomness of the characters Alex meets was like no other. It seemed very real and unbelievable at the same time, and while the journey had a pattern and rhythm to it, it was so exciting, I couldn't wait to see if he made it to his family.&nbsp; I also can't wait to read the second in the series, <i>Ashen Winter</i>, and all Mullin's fans anxiously await the newest and last book, <i>Sunrise</i>, which comes out soon.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-52558582891444769962014-03-21T14:44:00.002-07:002014-03-21T14:44:14.968-07:00The Bat by Jo Nesbo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uef4Kvg3pto/UyylUzVbHrI/AAAAAAAAAmw/P9b4CfVTtpY/s1600/thebat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uef4Kvg3pto/UyylUzVbHrI/AAAAAAAAAmw/P9b4CfVTtpY/s1600/thebat.jpg" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I couldn't help myself and thought I'd start at the beginning, with the first Harry Hole mystery. Getting to see the inspector as a young pup just starting out and beginning his good-natured self-destruction was very fun and dark at the same time, and the premise of this one was every bit as intriguing as <i>The Snowman.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In <i>The Bat,</i> Harry travels to Australia after the movie of a celebrity from Norway is killed. He befriends his "partner" in the police department and learns about the lives and prejudices regarding modern Aboriginals. He also becomes romantically involved with a witness, which adds some spice to Harry's character. Will these relationships get in the way of the investigation?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This first novel, while a little less polished perhaps than Nesbo's <i>The Snowman</i>, was nonetheless completely readable and unpredictable, and we can really see why everyone fell in love with Harry Hole. Give this series a try!</div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-86119088571198440942014-03-21T13:44:00.000-07:002014-03-21T14:44:31.620-07:00The Snowman by Jo Nesbo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUBCfCDLock/UyyiXPZrkuI/AAAAAAAAAmk/6JUzxUeg-t8/s1600/snowman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUBCfCDLock/UyyiXPZrkuI/AAAAAAAAAmk/6JUzxUeg-t8/s1600/snowman.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a></div><br />The Valley Book Club chose this Norwegian thriller for its discussion in February, and I was so glad. I had always wanted to read one by this very popular author, and I was not disappointed. It was filled with suspense, cool characters (no pun intended), and a little gore thrown in for good measure. Love it!<br /><br />Inspector Harry Hole is known for his stellar insights and knowledge of serial killers. (Note that this is the 7th Harry Hole mystery by Nesbo, but don't let that deter you from reading anywhere on the list. It was my first and didn't bother me a bit that I hadn't read others.)This new case began with a little boy discovering that his mother was not at home, and she had left without her pink scarf, an item she cherished. When police find the scarf wrapped around a snowman in the back yard, they discover the gruesome truth, and this calling card leads them to other murders. The last of which gets very personal for Harry.<br /><br />If you like creepy, dark, and spell-binding, then Jo Nesbo and <i>The Snowman</i> are for you. You may want to go back and read all the Harry Hole mysteries. I know I do.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-79302217700518972622013-12-26T16:39:00.001-08:002013-12-26T16:39:25.398-08:00Allegiant by Veronica Roth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O4kZSPeBfLM/UrzHdb8-o4I/AAAAAAAAAlI/awxHM409x9A/s1600/allegiant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O4kZSPeBfLM/UrzHdb8-o4I/AAAAAAAAAlI/awxHM409x9A/s200/allegiant.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><i>Allegiant</i> is the 3rd and final book in Roth's brilliant, dystopian <i>Divergent</i> series. <i>Divergent</i> fans like me have been waiting what seems like a lifetime for this installment, and although the ending had me almost crying and gasping for air, it did not disappoint.<br /><br />The post-apocalyptic world in which Tris and Tobias must now live is one divided between the divided Chicago that they knew, where groups or factions were determined by one personality trait, and one they never knew existed. Those who showed proclivity for more than one trait were considered "divergent" and therefore dangerous - that is until now. Tris and Tobias find out that there is whole other world where the government watches the city, researching their lives as part of a huge "experiment" to see if people with "damaged genes" can eventually get back to their genetically ideal or divergent state. Divergence is the only good state to be in, according to this government which wants to abolish the factions altogether. While this seems liberating and just to Tris and Tobias and their rebel friends at first, the means by which genetic purity will be obtained is not so liberating. The labels for people are changed, but the outcomes and civil strife that result are just as damaging as the "experiment."<br /><br />This is the complicated moral landscape that the characters in Roth's world must navigate. Real-life societal issues come into play when one talks about genetic purity, cleansing, war, and human experimentation. When does the end justify the means, etc.? All of this fascinating stuff is wrapped up in a band of very interesting young characters, Tris and Tobias's love story, and their ongoing family battles over power, love, and acceptance.<br /><br />The intoxicating combination of these elements is what makes this series one of today's hottest tickets, soon to be a ticket at theaters everywhere. So before the first movie comes out in March, do yourself a favor and get lost in the <i>Divergent </i>world. Read the books. You won't be able to put them down until they're done. <br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-77725783283234786942013-12-26T16:17:00.001-08:002013-12-26T16:17:14.070-08:00The Power by Rhonda Byrne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sm5pZEwinzw/Ury86zTzsGI/AAAAAAAAAk4/94liOTFQJeU/s1600/power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sm5pZEwinzw/Ury86zTzsGI/AAAAAAAAAk4/94liOTFQJeU/s200/power.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>When I first heard about the book <i>The Secret</i> by Rhonda Byrne, I thought to myself, "Oh, my gosh. Another dumb self help book full of fake spirituality." Obviously I wasn't ready for it. Then there came a time when I was. I read The Secret with an open heart - a heart that wanted to change my life for the better. And it helped me do just that. This new book in the series, <i>The Power</i>, is a wonderful extension of the teachings of the "law of attraction" which is now a law I try to live by every day.<br /><br />When you say the term "law of attraction" to people, they immediately think of romance. But that is really not what the law is about at all. It is, simply put, a way to become a happier person by concentrating and visualizing, using positive thought as a means to draw more positive aspects into your life. If your life is full of negativity, people complaining, adversity, illness, or other struggles, then learning the law of attraction is for you. This book helped to reiterate all the practices and also gave them a deeper and more usable meaning in my life. It teaches that by visualizing and living as though your perfect life has already happened to you, those things can come into being. If you are a positive person, positive people, opportunities, and even wealth and properity will come to you.<br /><br />So, some of you might say that these ideas are still "dumb self-help mumbo jumbo" but unless you try it, you won't see what it can do for you.If you can't do it, or it doesn't work, what have you lost?LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-68682166418156922692013-12-26T15:32:00.002-08:002013-12-26T15:32:21.145-08:00Champion by Marie Lu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6zscPDhvLc/Ury6BAqOhRI/AAAAAAAAAks/-jNVs1d2m00/s1600/champion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6zscPDhvLc/Ury6BAqOhRI/AAAAAAAAAks/-jNVs1d2m00/s200/champion.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><br />This third and final book in Lu's <i>Legend </i>series was much anticipated, and I couldn't wait to start it. I was not disappointed in this YA dystopian thriller which contains romance, sci-fi, and lots of twists.<br /><br />June and Day are estranged at the beginning of the novel, each struggling to make sense of a new government with new military forces. Day tries to adjust to life with his younger brother who now suffers from the left-over symptoms of the plague. June adjusts to her power and influence as the Princepts-Elect, a high ranking military position. They long to be together, but it doesn't seem possible until new horrors in the government threaten them both, and June must ask Day to make a huge sacrifice in order to save their country.<br /><br />While there are a lot of dystopian novels and series out there right now, <i>Legend</i> is still one of the most exciting. The books got better with each installment, ending with this one, which I think was my favorite. Give it a try and tell me what you think!LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-4165226907004807982013-12-26T15:15:00.002-08:002013-12-26T15:15:55.813-08:00Wild by Cheryl Strayed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYconvzuCec/Ury0C0RiIKI/AAAAAAAAAkc/n2ghLMDec1Y/s1600/wild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYconvzuCec/Ury0C0RiIKI/AAAAAAAAAkc/n2ghLMDec1Y/s200/wild.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />Take a woman who literally changes her name to "Strayed" after her divorce and put her on the Pacific Crest Trail - by herself- and see what happens. This is the experiment that the author puts herself through in this unique memoir about the quest for truth, personal understanding, and perseverance.<br /><br />&nbsp;When I first heard the premise behind this book, I thought it was extremely fascinating. It almost sounded like something I could do. It almost sounded fun. And then I read the book. The journey that Strayed undertakes is not something I could ever do. It did not sound fun. But what it was to Strayed was a life-changing experience where she learned a lot about herself, other people, and nature. She literally gives up all her worldly possessions except for those in a huge pack on her back. She has so little money, that she sends it to herself in boxes along the trail, $20 at a time, so that she can buy certain necessities, like Snapple and hamburgers.This is not something I could do. But it is something I can learn from.<br /><br />However, it is Strayed's feet that give her the most trouble on this journey. They betray her at every turn, becoming sore and bleeding, until at many points she has to delay her trek just to give them time to heal. But this battle with her feet is, indeed, the most horrifying part of her journey. And that is what I found most amazing.The people along the trail never disappointed her (well, ok, only once). They were friendly, supportive, and positive, including her and making her part of a strung out family of hikers all doing the same thing for different reasons. No one tried to rob her or kill her or harm her in any way. Nature was her cruelest enemy, and that was a very big, and wonderful surprise to me.<br /><br />While Strayed was too young to be called "middle aged" in the book, her journey is one that screams "mid-life crisis" or "flower child trying to find herself." But it worked for her. The demons that haunted her throughout life, making her seem like a narcissistic flake to some of our book club readers, came to the surface and hiked along with her. And while she may not have gained closure in all aspects of her life (I mean, that would be pretty difficult for most of us to achieve), the journey gave her a kind of peace that allowed her to move on. And isn't that what we all want to do? So, give Strayed's story a try. You might just find yourself in the pages.<br /><br /><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-41819070947522166622013-10-25T14:54:00.001-07:002013-10-25T14:54:13.976-07:00The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnBOCpk7rXc/UmrmGReoySI/AAAAAAAAAkA/6JlV6W25oBA/s1600/languageofflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnBOCpk7rXc/UmrmGReoySI/AAAAAAAAAkA/6JlV6W25oBA/s200/languageofflowers.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was a little leery of starting a book about flowers. ﻿I am not a gardener. I love flowers, but I do not love taking care of them. But this book happens to be about much more than flowers or gardening. It's about the love of flowers, beauty, words, children, and life itself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Victoria Jones was raised in foster homes. Some bad, some OK, and one very good. It is in her brief stay with one motherless mother-figure who teaches her the names and "meanings" of all the flowers that Victoria is able to blossom herself. But the rest of her life is so filled with hurt and tragedy and isolation, that when she is finally emancipated from the social system, she is at a loss of&nbsp;what to do with her life. But then she comes across a florist and her shop. The florist gives her a job arranging bouquets and delivering to weddings, but it is Victoria's knowledge of just what the flowers mean that people are searching for, longing for. The boy from Victoria's past is also longing for her, and as they reconnect, we discover how different people are but how there is, indeed, love in the world for everyone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a dictionary of flower meanings in the back of this book that I will treasure forever. What a wonderful language to share with others about how you're feeling and how you're feeling about them. I'll never forget this powerful, beautiful book. Give it a try and let me know which flowers speak to you.</div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-59874000336246676392013-08-29T11:21:00.002-07:002013-08-29T11:21:54.820-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMifTIWBRUQ/Uh-PBGmv2wI/AAAAAAAAAjU/l6pNyp6u8OE/s1600/defendingjacob.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMifTIWBRUQ/Uh-PBGmv2wI/AAAAAAAAAjU/l6pNyp6u8OE/s200/defendingjacob.png" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're starting off the Valley Book Club this year with this wildly popular legal drama/mystery by William Landay. The characters and situation are very unique, and they really made me think about how far we should go to protect our children, how deeply we can NOT know someone close to us, and how terrible things can, indeed, happen to good people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, there is a murder victim, a teenaged boy, found in a park. Then there is a DA who tries to approach and solve the case as he would any other, despite the fact that he has a son at the same school as the victim. Next comes the realization by the DA that his son was actually being bullied by the victim. This is followed by a lot of Facebook stalking by the DA, some damning evidence, &nbsp;and a trial that tears apart their family and the community. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, this is the part where you come to the library and pick up this fascinating book and read it for yourself. And better yet, come to the Valley Book Club's discussion on Sept. 5th.&nbsp; We'd love to hear your insights!﻿</div><br />LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-52743880581327100482013-08-11T17:19:00.000-07:002013-08-29T10:51:28.768-07:00The English Girl by Daniel Silva<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmLkM7CKsVU/UggmeWDPS0I/AAAAAAAAAi4/fyfUzTjyXU0/s1600/englishgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmLkM7CKsVU/UggmeWDPS0I/AAAAAAAAAi4/fyfUzTjyXU0/s200/englishgirl.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I don't usually read too many series that are this long with the same characters. But Gabriel Allon and his cast of black ops spies are just too irresistible. While all series of this kind get a bit formulaic, Silva always manages to entertain me and leave me wanting just one more book. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>The English Girl</em> is the story of a kidnapping, a murder, some unrelenting memories, and the&nbsp;skilled team behind Gabriel Allon, Israeli spy, that bring them all together. Is the English girl gone for good? Has Gabriel lost? Will he ever become the chief of intelligence for&nbsp; The Office? All burning questions. All revealed when you read this exciting new thriller by the master that is Silva. Enjoy!﻿</div><div align="center">﻿</div>LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-71798986456391778522013-07-26T13:27:00.003-07:002013-08-29T10:52:52.567-07:00May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQkPFekLHNA/UedMLYBsYEI/AAAAAAAAAiA/vdMttTN-qUc/s1600/maywebeforgiven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQkPFekLHNA/UedMLYBsYEI/AAAAAAAAAiA/vdMttTN-qUc/s200/maywebeforgiven.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>I had no expectations when I started this book, other than I&nbsp;knew that the author won the Women's Prize for fiction. I just learned that she also went to the Iowa Writer's Workshop. No big surprise. Because this is one of the best, funniest, most though-provoking novels that's come along in a long time. <br /><br />It starts with an ordinary guy named Harold. A nice, married, educated, normal guy. He has an extraordinary brother. Extraordinarily obnoxious, mean, crass, and successful. In comes obnoxious brother's wife who plants a big Thanksgiving kiss on her brother-in-law in the middle of her kitchen. And all goes downhill from there. Or does it?<br /><br />The kiss and ensuing affair bring on a terrible, horrifying, hilarious chain of events for Harold. The consequences of his actions with his sister-in-law could never be imagined. His life changes so completely in the year following it that the reader is inexplicably drawn in to laugh at the absurdity and cry at the heartbreaking reality. But good guys don't always finish last, and nice guys can learn from their mistakes. Harold is that guy. <br /><br />I found myself loving Harold's dry wit and tell-it-like-it-is style. He recognizes that his life really couldn't get any worse, so he might as well make it better. The author's writing style in bringing a guy like Harold to life is fascinating, and unique. I loved it, and I couldn't put it down. This kind of dark comedy is not appealing to everyone, including me usually. But I hope you'll give Harold a try. And I hope that you will, indeed, forgive him. I know I did.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-47859535034399754852013-06-19T15:23:00.001-07:002013-06-19T15:23:33.264-07:00If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rQYrFbdRMg/UcIsHJXGycI/AAAAAAAAAhw/mjOAkK5fS-E/s1600/if+you+find+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rQYrFbdRMg/UcIsHJXGycI/AAAAAAAAAhw/mjOAkK5fS-E/s200/if+you+find+me.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />Carey and her younger sister Jenessa are lost. They are hidden. But they are together. They have been taken from their abusive father and sequestered away in a run-down camper in the middle of a huge state park by their meth-addicted mother. She leaves them to fend for themselves for weeks at a time, but they manage to survive, and in many ways form a complete family with each other. But then some unexpected visitors show up: a social worker and Carey's father. They take the girls out of the woods and try to give them a new life that's very different from their old one. The past in the woods, and their present in the real world clash and meld together in very unexpected ways. And together, Carey and Jenessa then must face the secret of the white star night that changed them forever.<br /><br />This YA debut by Emily Murdoch takes a terrible, harsh setting and plot that seem pretty unbelievable and brings them so alive that you can't stop reading. The characters and what they say and feel are so real, that it gave me some real moments of extreme emotion. So, if you can find this one, don't let it pass you by.LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348965241800670373.post-89589711135832927282013-06-19T15:08:00.000-07:002013-06-19T15:08:33.041-07:00Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xadzsKBRoeQ/UcIpNK4raeI/AAAAAAAAAhg/IBQAJlKx1d0/s1600/tapestryoffortunes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xadzsKBRoeQ/UcIpNK4raeI/AAAAAAAAAhg/IBQAJlKx1d0/s200/tapestryoffortunes.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>There are so many topics or themes in Berg's new book that intrigued me. As soon as I ordered it for the library, I knew I wanted to read it, but I didn't. It sat on the shelf. Sometimes it was read by other patrons. And sometimes it sat - waiting for me. So one fateful day, I picked it up, and in a couple I days I read it. It was not a mistake of fortune.<br /><br />In the book, Cece Ross, a motivational speaker, mourns her best friend's passing by changing her own life. She finally heeds the wishes of her friend by getting rid of things she doesn't need, taking a long break from her job, giving back to others, and finding out what the rest of life will hold. Cece feels it will be difficult to do these things, but after consulting her many fortune telling items, she decides it is, indeed, the exact right time. So she sells her house and moves in with three other women, into a beautiful, old house. She starts to volunteer at a hospice, and she takes her new friends on a road trip that they will never forget. And neither will I.<br /><br />Tapestry of Fortunes was a wonderful surprise for me, full of truth and joy and a realness of character that will stick with me for a long time. So, if I were you, I'd check your Taro cards and then heed them - and pick up this great read!LibraryLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08576941482281717278noreply@blogger.com0